The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Andy Serkis, Motion Capture Master Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Mike Pesca is leaving Facebook, mostly.

In the interview, Andy Serkis is here to discuss his newest movie, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, along with the film's star Rohan Chand. They talk about the magic of working in motion capture, how it really isn't all that different from other types of acting, and what it was like jumping on Christian Bale's back. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is available on Netflix.

In the Spiel, finding the appropriate punishments for things like drones at the airport.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Babies Are Not All Right Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, why do daily news podcasts think they can take off for the holidays?

In the interview, journalist Priska Neely has been writing about the rates of black infant mortality and why they're so much higher than American infant mortality rates overall. She joins us today to discuss the possible reasons, including community support systems, health care–related problems, and how racism factors into it all.

In the Spiel, Donald Trump visits Iraq and says a lot.

This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers:

SimpliSafe, protect your home today with twenty-four seven monitoring for just fifteen dollars a month, visit simplisafe.com/gist.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Same Old Mike, Plus The New One Dec 22, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Donald Trump is to "wall" as zombies are to "braaaains."

In his Broadway show (The New One) Mike Birbiglia tells you why procreation is a terrible idea, before waxing lyrical on the joys of raising a daughter—it's complicated; he's complicated. On The Gist, he spares a thought for how to tip at an Olive Garden, the future of email leaks, and Fox News' underwhelming Christmas tree.

In the Spiel, abandoning arguments of good (or bad) faith.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Free Money for Everyone? Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Amazon or marijuana?

In the interview, Andrew Yang has declared his candidacy for the 2020 presidential election, and his platform is universal basic income. But how does that work? Is there room for that and other progressive platforms like free college tuition or universal health care? Yang's new book is The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future.

In the Spiel, thought experiments and the extinction of the human race.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adam Keeps Ruining Everything Dec 20, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, the government shutdown and Santa.

In the interview, Adam Conover joins us to discuss the latest season of Adam Ruins Everything, how they ruin things like guns and mattresses, the mistakes they've made along the way, and if there are any topics they aren't allowed to cover. Adam Ruins Everything airs on Tuesday nights on truTV.

In the Spiel, Alice Walker, the New York Times, and narratives.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Alt-Right Downturn Dec 19, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, why Mick Mulvaney's trash talk didn't cost him a job under Trump.

In the interview, is the alt-right waning? An expert on the movement, George Hawley, says that de-platforming worked to counter hateful figures like Milo Yiannopoulos and Alex Jones and that the news media may have overestimated their cunning—throwing memes at the wall until some of them stick—to begin with. Hawley is a professor of politics at the University of Alabama and the author of The Alt-Right: What Everyone Needs to Know.

In the Spiel, some Pesca family lore on befriending Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Don't Trust the Stars Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, maybe Rudy Giuliani isn't deteriorating. Rather, his job now (defending Trump's shenanigans) is tougher than any he's had.

Maria Konnikova is back to call bullshit on astrology. She walks us through its origins in ancient Chaldea, its popularity among history's scientists and philosophers, and the present day—where real experiments have been run. Is there any truth to it? And what about just enjoying the fun of it all?

In the Spiel, goodbye Ryan Zinke. We knew ye well enough.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Dec 15, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, the demise of the Weekly Standard.

Then, going with your gut isn't always best (despite what President Donald Trump may tell you). Writer Steven Johnson says making better decisions can be as simple as considering multiple options instead of focusing on the "should I" or "shouldn't I." He's also got anecdotes about Darwin's marital deliberations, machine learning, and the call to storm the fortress in which Osama Bin Laden ("probably," Americans figured) was ensconced. Johnson is the author of Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most.

In the Spiel, pronouncing people's names correctly.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One Quiet Leap for Mankind Dec 14, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Jeff Bezos is one rich man. That doesn't make him (and Amazon) bad for New York City.

In the interview, First Man is as much about Neil Armstrong the man as it is about Neil Armstrong the astronaut. Instead of depicting him planting a U.S. flag on the moon, screenwriter Josh Singer had him pay tribute to his deceased daughter. That ruffled some feathers, and Singer tells us why he stands by it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When the President Speaks … Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, President Trump interrupted Nancy Pelosi because he interrupts everyone.

In the interview, the deputy executive director of U.N. Women, Åsa Regnér, knows how to bring more women into politics. Countries like Bolivia, Rwanda, and those in Scandinavia have achieved more equal representation. So how useful are quotas? Does religion play a role? How can gender parity be seen not just as a rights issue but something smarter for policymaking, the economy, and the health of the country?

In the Spiel, putting a dollar value on the election fraud in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.